Sarah Palin was briefed by the Director of National Intelligence prior to her meeting heads of state today.

NEW YORK (CNN) - Before heading out for a trio of well-publicized meetings with foreign dignitaries on Tuesday, Sarah Palin received a national security briefing from the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Michael McConnell, who met with the governor this morning in her New York hotel.

Palin’s top foreign policy adviser informed reporters of the meeting at a small briefing following Palin’s visits with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The adviser, Stephen Biegun, formerly a senior official on the National Security Council under President Bush, characterized the intelligence briefing as “routine” and said it was the sort of meeting that “is standard for candidates for the vice president and president.” Biegun said several officials were present to brief Palin.

Palin then departed her hotel for a series of motorcade trips around Manhattan, visiting with foreign leaders for the first time in her career.

“These are relationships that she intuitively understands are very important for the next President and Vice President of the United States,” Biegun said of the meetings.

In those get-togethers, Palin kept the focus primarily on energy issues and the growing influence of Russia, according to Biegun. Palin found Kissinger particularly engrossing - their meeting had been scheduled to last 30 minutes, but the two met for nearly an hour and a half.

“In talking to Dr. Kissinger,” Biegun said, “she certainly had a lot of questions about how the United States can develop a cooperative relationship with Russia, what are some of the unique challenges to the current state of Russia's political development, and having been in particular, some of the recent developments we've seen with Russia - backsliding democracy, Russia’s incursion into Georgia.”

Asked about her meetings with Karzai and Uribe, Biegun said Palin “liked them very much” and “established a great personal rapport.”

With Karzai, Palin chatted for half an hour about John McCain’s desire to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. With Uribe, she listened for about 20 minutes as the president discussed the country’s security situation and its handling of the FARC guerillas.

According to Biegun, “rather than make specific policy prescriptions, she was largely listening, having an exchange of views, and also very interested in forming a relationship with people she met with today.”

Biegun, who is helping prepare Palin for her debate with Sen. Joseph Biden on October 2 in St. Louis, would not say what specific topics the governor was concentrating on in her study sessions.

soundoff(587 Responses)

Please God tell me someone with 2 hours of on the job training did not just get briefed on National secrets. It's going to be all over the world once her myspace account is hacked

September 23, 2008 06:59 pm at 6:59 pm |

Ron

It never ceases to amaze me that you liberals cannot disagree with a persons views without calling names ,with that said quiet down and drink your koolaid you morons

September 23, 2008 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

sue

So the international community get to speak with her-but america can't?
Doesn't that seem very unamerican?
I am surprised how the public is allowing themselves to be taken-in by the republicans (again!)-And it seems like some of you are eating the stuff up.
Media go get yourself a pair!
Make a stand and boycott her! Better yet boycott Mccain!
They should not be getting away with this.
Get a back bone & make a stand...this is not a joke...Stop allowing yourself to be made a fool!

September 23, 2008 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

Sarah Failin

Deal or No Deal?

No deal. Thanks, but no thanks. Let her exit, stage right.

Obama/Biden 08

September 23, 2008 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

CA Bob

America's standing in the eyes of the world was reduced by this sideshow. Is it any wonder that the rest of the world thinks Obama should be president?

September 23, 2008 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

Olivia

Did anyone ever wonder how many world leaders Obama met prior to the dem primaries? I heard very few, and possibly only 2.

September 23, 2008 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

Paris

Did anyone listen to segments from Ahmadinejad’s interview with Larry King?
It was as if he was going through Obama’s talking points.
I like to know why Ahmadinejad shares Obama’s view on the following issues:
-Iraq time table
-Talking to them with no condition (Oh, no Ahmadinejad had more condition to meet with our candidate that Obama did in meeting with him)

September 23, 2008 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

Minimal Government

Regardless of who is elected we will still be in the same situation we are in now in four years. Troops will still be in iraq, troops will still be in Afghanistan, the economy will still be garbage, and fuel prices will be even higher. So I ask who will we blame then?

September 23, 2008 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

fixbone

i guess she is READY to handle the world's problems now!!!

September 23, 2008 07:02 pm at 7:02 pm |

trisketpc@aol.com

You CNN make me sick. You are constantly covering Sarah Palin. Where are your pictures of Joe Biden. Where is your coverage of his life history, his family, his experience, his foreign policy meetings. If we end up with this religious fanatice idiot woman as our president it will be because of the media. What happened to fair and equal coverage or is everything you cover based on it's National Enquirer weight?

September 23, 2008 07:02 pm at 7:02 pm |

Peter (CA)

darko-

Because like everything else coming from the Republicans, it's not true. Do a fact check before putting it out there.

September 23, 2008 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

MD in ND

THAT"S IT...She's ready. One day of meetings and we all have to vote for MCPalin.

Marcus..Obama is occupied with "a little " economic crisis and already has the foreign relations thing down. Who cares what Palin is doing. Obviously not going off script.

September 23, 2008 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

cecil

brains? She's Been A Walking Pull String Doll.

The McCain Camp Treat Her As Thought She's Not Capable Of Being A VP!

September 23, 2008 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

Shannon, Independent Voter

Palin is woefully unqualified as a vp candidate. Why is the mccain camp trying to negotiate the details of the vp debate. If she were truly qualified, and ready as they say she is, she would be able to hold her own without any coaching or script, or negotiating.

I still can't believe the mccain camp won't let her be interviewed and that she and her husband, as well as former employees are refusing to testify as a result of being issued a supeona. What the hell is that all about?

Who of us could even imagine that we would boldly tell someone we will not honor a supeona? I can guarantee you we, the regular folk, would be jailed immediately. Why is anyone even remotely thinking of voting for someone who is not following the law, and thinks the law does not apply to her. I think we don't know the half of it, and she is corrupt to the core, as well as her "shadow governor" husband.

September 23, 2008 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

J. Dean

I DO NOT SEE ANY BENEFIT AND I DO NOT SEE ANY COMMON GROUND FOR THIS TYPE OF MEETINGS.
PALIN IS MAINLY IN THE BUSINESS OF OIL ORIENTED ACTIVITIES, WHILE THE """PRESIDENT"""" OF AFGHANISTAN, ACTUALLY THE MAYOR OF KABUL IS IN THE BUSINESS OF NARCOTICS.
SINCE ALL ACTIVITIES OF PALIN WERE KEPT SECRET, WHY DO THEY MAKE A BIG PUBLICITY OUT OF THIS MEETING ?
HAMID KARZAI IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MAYOR OR KABUL, BECAUSE HE NEVER VENTURES TO GO AND VISIT OTHER CITIES OF AFGHANISTAN. HE IS THE NUMBER ONE ON THE LOST OF TERRORISTS TO BE ELIMINATED. IF NOT, SOON HE WILL BE OUT OF OFFICE THE WAY THE CORRUPT PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN, PARVEZ MUSHARRAF, WAS KICKED OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE OF PAKISTAN.
PROBABLY THE SECRET SERVICES OF BOTH, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN, HAE MORE CONTROL AND KNOW MORE THAN ANY BODY ELSE ABOUT THE NEAR FUTURE HAPPENINGS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.
DOES PALIN KNOW ABOUT THESE FACTS ??????
I DOUBT, NOT PALIN EVEN JOHN McCAIN DOESN'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT IS GOING IS THOSE COUNTRIES.
WE REMEMBER JOHN McCAIN DECLARING THAT ""THE PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN IS A GOOD FRIEND OF HIS AND HE OFTEN TALKS TO HIM AND HE SUPPORTS MUSHARRAF ALLTHE WAY".
HEY, OLD MAN DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ""MY FRIEND PARVEZ MUSHARRAF"" ???????????????????????????
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES. WHAT A PROPAGANDA GOOD FOR NOTHING, HEY !

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

yvonne**KENTUCKY

THIS IS JUST SAD IF THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO HAS FAMILY IN THESE FOREIGN COUNTRYS CAN YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID. I KNOW TO ME THIS GOES BEYOND STUPID!!!!!!!! NO MEDIA QUESTIONS-WHAT??? SINCE WHEN DOES SOMEONE IN THIS COUNTRY RUNNING FOR ONE OF THE TOP POLITICAL OFFICES NOT HAVE TO MEET & GREET WITH THE PRESS??? HUH WHAT??? REPUBLICANS I SMELL DEAD MOOSEBURGER!!!! OH YEAH john mccain STOP YOUR WHINNING THE PRESS IS PRO OBAMA. MAYBE IF sarabarbie WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH THE PRESS YOU COULD GET THEM IN YOUR POCKETS. PS THE MEDIA IS NOT PRO OBAMA THEY ARE VERY REALISTIC ABOUT MOOSEBURGER SUE.

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

Ron

The saddest part in all of this is Americans are dumb enough to fall for these tactics. Women all over this country will vote McCain simply because he has a women on his ticket.

The guy from Iran is right. The end of America is happening right before our eyes.

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

Becky

Why wouldnt Sarkozy, Brown or Merkel meet with her? Its seems that only the puppet leaders would meet with the Neo-Con's newest puppet....

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

Peter (CA)

Marcus,

Haven't been paying attention, have you?

Obama dealt with world leaders several months ago. Remember when he went to the Middle East and Europe and the Republicans said he should have stayed home because they were all jealous he did so well?

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

bob

at least when sarah palin debates Joe Biden , any notes she brings will be her own and not copied from someone else like Joe;s

September 23, 2008 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |

Enlightened Voter

EDW – Brilliant and oh so true!
Palin is dangerous for this country. Sorry, but can afford to let this clueless, uneducated, trailor park tra– liar anywhere near controlling our country? Republicans should insulted that mccain thinks so low of your intelligence.

September 23, 2008 07:05 pm at 7:05 pm |

FreeNLovIt

Good for her... McCain's dad died at the age of 71 or 72. Palin needs to be ready, but nevertheless, it once said that even a Biden may not be enough to secure the peace in iraq, so if Biden cant make it, Palin doesnt stand a chance.

God Bless America! I hope the Donkeys win!

September 23, 2008 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

Phil in Toronto

Sarah needed photos taken with something other than a moose, although what she had to offer up may not have been much different.

September 23, 2008 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

Robin

Obama has way more credible foreign policy experience than Palin, he sits on the Foreign Relations committee, and on the subcommittee on European Affairs, and on the the committee for Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He's had discussions several times with Karzhi and Maliaki about the future of our troop deployments in their respective countries.

Palin on the other hand is just starting to meet world leaders today and only for just a few minutes to shaking hands and talking about their children, which is about as shallow a conversation you can have with another world leader.